Just yesterday I was going to come here and write a post asking how I can break the cycle of giving my kids too much screen time. I get home around 6 and usually have about an hour until MrPi comes home, so I have dinner and other chores to attend to. Therefore I have to find other things for the kiddos to do, without me. (This happens throughout the day on weekends, too.) Rooster is pretty good right now at entertaining herself. But Buster usually needs someone to be with him. Unless we let him watch a movie/cartoon or play wii. So it's much easier to let him do that. I know there are things I can try to engage him with me or facilitate activities on his own, but I was going to ask if you had any more ideas!
One easy idea is for him to help me make dinner. I tried that last night and it exceeded beyond my wildest dreams. I asked him to help make sub sandwiches, and he said he could do it himself! I was so proud of him.
I'm sure that won't work every night, and we'll still have to find other things for him to do during evenings and weekends when we have to get things done. But this was one moment of happiness to start with!
FWIS3
In memory of our guiding lights - Russ, Mike and Charlie - “To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your own path, and don't worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest”
Helpful Buster
7 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Helpful Buster
by pumpkinpi » Thu Jan 22, 2015 5:23 pm
Too bad ignorance isn't painful.
"Standing at the forefront of human ignorance." Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe
"Standing at the forefront of human ignorance." Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe
-
pumpkinpi - Posts: 2034
- Joined: Mon May 27, 2013 12:56 pm
- Location: 100 meters closer to the north pole than the equator
Re: Helpful Buster
by SciFiFisher » Fri Jan 23, 2015 5:59 am
We try to limit the types of visual garbage that our 4 (almost 5) year watches at home too. We use things like coloring books, a leap pad, and Brite's IPAD which has games and educational "appizodes" from some of his favorite Disney Jr and similar channels.
"To create more positive results in your life, replace 'if only' with 'next time'." — Author Unknown
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward." — Vernon Law
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward." — Vernon Law
-
SciFiFisher - Redneck Geek
- Posts: 4865
- Joined: Mon May 27, 2013 5:01 pm
- Location: Sacramento CA
Re: Helpful Buster
by Rommie » Fri Jan 23, 2015 12:15 pm
Hah- my mom was a super strict person about screen time when I was little- we weren't allowed to play video games (even when our uncle bought us a SuperNintendo, we could only play when she was out of the house!), but TV or computer time was relegated from 530-7pm. So I'm guessing this is a never-ending parental dilemma. 
If he wants to help I think that's awesome, and also a good habit because it helps a kid feel like he's a member of the household and helps to make it run. Probably easier to pawn off chores on him when he's older.
If he wants to help I think that's awesome, and also a good habit because it helps a kid feel like he's a member of the household and helps to make it run. Probably easier to pawn off chores on him when he's older.
Yes, I have a life. It's quite different from yours.
-
Rommie - Posts: 3993
- Joined: Mon May 27, 2013 10:04 am
Re: Helpful Buster
by geonuc » Fri Jan 23, 2015 1:46 pm
Yeah, my mom wouldn't let us play video games either. She had some stupid excuse like "They haven't been invented yet, dear."
Good for Buster. And you, for raising him so well.
Good for Buster. And you, for raising him so well.
-
geonuc - Resident Rock Hound
- Posts: 3429
- Joined: Mon May 27, 2013 11:16 am
- Location: Not the Mojave
Re: Helpful Buster
by Swift » Fri Jan 23, 2015 2:25 pm
geonuc wrote:Yeah, my mom wouldn't let us play video games either. She had some stupid excuse like "They haven't been invented yet, dear."
But MOM! All the other kids get to play with time-traveling toys!
Never, ever forget: we did this. This is what we can do.
In wilderness is the preservation of the world. - Henry David Thoreau
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead
In wilderness is the preservation of the world. - Henry David Thoreau
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead
-
Swift - Posts: 2353
- Joined: Wed May 29, 2013 2:40 am
- Location: At my keyboard
-
Sigma_Orionis - Resident Oppressed Latino
- Posts: 4491
- Joined: Mon May 27, 2013 2:19 am
- Location: The "Glorious Socialist" Land of Chavez
Re: Helpful Buster
by code monkey » Fri Jan 23, 2015 8:58 pm
thank you, geonuc and swift, for a much-needed laugh.
pumpkinpi, is there a craft that buster enjoys? are there no reading/teaching applications that you're happy with?
pumpkinpi, is there a craft that buster enjoys? are there no reading/teaching applications that you're happy with?
and still i persist in wondering whether folly must always be our nemesis. edgar pangborn
come gentle night. come loving black browed night
give me my romeo. and when he shall die
take him and cut him out in little stars
and he will make the face of heaven so fine
that all will be in love with night
and pay no worship to the garish sun. william shakespeare
come gentle night. come loving black browed night
give me my romeo. and when he shall die
take him and cut him out in little stars
and he will make the face of heaven so fine
that all will be in love with night
and pay no worship to the garish sun. william shakespeare
-
code monkey - Posts: 1798
- Joined: Wed May 29, 2013 7:41 am
7 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests